Ex-official at NY disability agency accused of harassment

Ex-official at NY disability agency accused of harassment

Oct. 23, 2017

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The former special prosecutor at a New York state agency responsible for protecting disabled people from abuse is accusing her ex-boss of harassment.

Patricia Gunning told The New York Post that she left her job at the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs in August after being retaliated against for speaking up about the alleged misconduct by Jay Kiyonaga, a former senior official at the agency.

Gunning claims Kiyonaga engaged in inappropriate behavior with an unnamed female subordinate. She says she was subjected to abusive behavior after complaining about the conduct.

Kiyonaga left the Justice Center earlier this year for another state agency. He declined to comment to The Post.

A Justice Center spokeswoman says the agency investigated and found Gunning's claims to have no merit.